Office of Health Disparities Reduction Website

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

The Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the launch of Think Cultural Health’s newly redesigned website! Please visit www.ThinkCulturalHealth.hhs.gov and check out the new site. The Think Cultural Health website now includes designs that feature a simpler layout and brighter colors. It’s also mobile ready and can be accessed anytime from your cell phone, tablet and lap top and desk top computers.

Our goal is to offer engaging and practical tools to increase public awareness and understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) that are available to all. The new Think Cultural Health website design makes it easier for anyone to browse the latest resources and find information that will help individuals and organizations deliver respectful, understandable, and effective services to all. Start exploring today!

The National CLAS Standards section features an explanation of CLAS, a printable list of the Standards, the comprehensive technical assistance document called The Blueprint, and more.

The Education section features e-learning programs designed for disaster personnel, nurses, oral health professionals, physicians, community health workers, and more.

The Resources section features a searchable library of 500+ online resources, recorded presentations, educational video units on CLAS, and more.

We are pleased to announce a new training on e-cigarettes and pregnancy for health professionals. E-Cigarettes and Pregnancy is a free, online interactive presentation on electronic nicotine delivery systems and their potential health effects during and after pregnancy and discusses effective tobacco cessation treatments. E-Cigarettes and Pregnancyis a new module for Smoking Cessation for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Virtual Clinic, an online training designed for health professionals to effectively assist women in quitting smoking. The training is eligible for free continuing education and Maintenance of Certification Part IV credit.

Many victims of human trafficking encounter health care and social service professionals and remain unidentified. Potential victims can present with a wide-range of physical and psychological health issues and social service needs, and the SOAR training aims to educate health care and social service professionals how to identify, treat, and respond appropriately to potential victims of human trafficking.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has scheduled ten (10) virtual and five (5) in-person SOAR trainings throughout August and September for health care providers, public health professionals, social workers, and behavioral health professionals. For more information on the launch of this resource, upcoming training dates, and how to register, please visit the SOAR webpage (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/endtrafficking/initiatives/soar).

New Publications

Explains to consumers what wellness is and how it affects overall quality of life, particularly for people with mental illness. Describes eight dimensions of wellness and offers suggestions for how people can apply them to their own lives to improve their overall wellbeing. Inventory#: SMA16-4950

A component of SAMHSA's wellness initiative which encourages to plan activities in the community during National Wellness Week. Organizations provide the name of the host and the organization along with details of the event on a customizable form. Inventory#: SMA16-4954

Friday, August 26, 2016

Every day, more than 75 people in our country die from a prescription drug or heroin overdose. In 2013, nearly 249 million prescriptions were written for opioids—enough for every adult in America to have a bottle of pills. A significant factor in the opioid epidemic is legally written prescriptions from doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

As a physician myself, I understand the important role that we—the doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists and physician assistants of America—can play in the effort to turn the tide on this epidemic. To help address the prescription opioid crisis, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is taking historic action by sending a personal letter to more than 2.3 million health care practitioners and public health leaders. I want to make sure you see his letter, a copy of which I have included below. Please take a moment to read it and then visit www.TurnTheTideRx.org/join to join with clinicians from across the country in a simple but powerful movement to end this epidemic.TurnTheTideRx.org provides clinicians with practical tools, information, and in-the-trenches stories from colleagues offering their insights into the epidemic. This new resource becomes another crucial tool in our work to reduce the behavioral health disparities that minorities experience, including lack of access to services and treatment. Some of these barriers to care include systemic issues of bias in the health care delivery system; discrimination; lack of insurance; and cultural, language, and communication barriers between patients and providers.For the communities we serve at the HHS Office of Minority Health, we are for example concerned by the prescription opioid overdose deaths among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations–death rates that surpass those of non-Hispanic whites according to data from the CDC. And while AI/AN populations have the highest prescription opioid deaths rates of all Americans, the devastation of this epidemic is felt across all populations, including all racial and ethnic minority populations. Now is the time to shine a light on the hidden realities of mental and substance use disorders in communities of color—conditions that are often intensified by trauma. And, lack of health coverage and the ability to afford care are often reported as barriers to seeking treatment, further compounding the disparities generated by adverse social and economic conditions.The HHS Office of Minority Health, along with Dr. Murthy, encourages you to spread the news about this new effort to combat the prescription opioid crisis to your networks and communities. We hope you will join the movement and be a part of the solution. Together we can turn the tide.Sincerely,

Monday, August 22, 2016

Help Me Grow is sponsoring FREE Perinatal Mood Disorders Training for those providing direct services to families in the early childhood realm. Amy-Rose White, a Perinatal and Couple Psychotherapist, will be providing training about perinatal mood disorders.

When: Friday, September 30th, 9:00am-4:30pm

Where: The Heritage Room at the Jones Center(382 East 3605 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84115)

Objective: Attendees will emerge with a basic understanding of how to screen women as well as appropriate response protocols and concrete interventions.

This training is provided at no-cost to you through Help Me Grow, Early Childhood Utah and the Office of Home Visiting. Registration is limited to 100 people and offered on a first come, first serve basis. You may register by clicking here.

Contact Julie Miller, Program Manager | Help Me Grow Utah, United Ways of Utah for more information at juliem@unitedwayuc.org.

The RWJF Culture of Health Prize honors communities that are making great strides in their journey toward better health by creating powerful partnerships and deep commitments to make change—change that will enable all in our diverse society to lead healthier lives now and for generations to come.
Up to 10 winning communities will each receive a $25,000 cash prize and have their success stories celebrated and shared broadly to inspire locally-driven change across the nation.Apply for the 2017 Culture of Health Prize >
Each of us has the superhero potential necessary to building a Culture of Health. Is your community harnessing those superhero qualities into powerful partnerships for better health? If the answer is yes, apply now. Previous Prize winning communities were selected for their creative strategies and innovative cross-sector collaborations that ultimately helped residents lead healthier lives. Learn more about the 2017 Prize eligibility and selection criteria >

Friday, August 12, 2016

How do adults in Utah view their oral health? This fact sheet summarizes select data on self-reported oral health status, attitudes and dental care utilization among Utah adults as of 2015, by income level, based on an innovative household survey, including:

How oral health affects day-to-day function and well-being

How the appearance of mouth and teeth impacts one’s ability to interview for a job

Thursday, August 11, 2016

The Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) is looking to hire 10 bilingual (Spanish/English) AmeriCorps members for the upcoming term. For over 20 years, the Utah Healthcare Corps has increased access to
primary healthcare services for Utahns by reducing economic,
geographic, cultural, and language barriers.
As a Utah Healthcare Corps member you will
make a difference in the healthcare community by providing patients with vital health
education and translation services, including facilitating health insurance enrollment. In exchange for 52 weeks of service, you’ll receive
$1,500 per month of service, a $5,815 Segal Education Award upon successful completion of
service, postponement of qualified student loans, and enrollment in a healthcare plan. Join the Utah Healthcare Corps! Contact Levi at levi@auch.org

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Are you or is someone you know grieving the death of someone close due to drug overdose? Caring Connections is here to support you. The death of a close friend or family member is a powerful and emotional experience. It can shatter life as one used to know it.Three elements that seem to assist in processing grief following the death of a family member or friend are:• Gathering relevant information from a knowledgeable professional• Talking to others about your loss• Listening to others who have had similar experiences.Our bereavement support groups are led by health care professionals holding Masters or Doctoral Degrees in Social Work or Psychiatric Nursing or Licensed Professional Counseling.Contact Caring Connection at 801-585-9522 for questions or to register. Funded by the University of Utah Educational Resource
Development Council.Caring Connections, A Hope and Comfort in Grief ProgramUniversity of Utah College of Nursing10 S. 2000 E Room 3640Salt Lake City, Utah 84112801-585-9522

Monday, August 8, 2016

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center is inviting applications for development of program innovations that increase accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities and maximize the utilization of Section 5310 and other federal funding investments.

Purpose

This grant opportunity is intended to support program innovations and approaches that increase accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities living in the community and maximize the utilization of Section 5310 and other federal funding investments.

Funding Amount

Grants of up to $50,000 each will be awarded to as many as six communities for a twelve month period.

Qualified Applicants

Local and regional private nonprofit or government organizations may apply for this funding opportunity. Eligible applicants include (but are not limited to) the following: Public Transit Agencies; Councils of Government; Metropolitan Planning Organizations; Tribal agencies (e.g., Title VI Aging Programs, Tribal Transit Agencies); Area Agencies on Aging; Community Action Agencies; Centers for Independent Living; ARCs (Intellectual Disability service organizations); community organizations involved in the administration, delivery or coordination of public transit, human services transportation, aging, or disability services.

How to Apply

1. For instructions on how to use this application system, please see: How to Use the Online Application System

2. Visit www.nadtc.fluidreview.com to register and access the application.

3. All sections of the Application must be completed in order to submit it for evaluation. The sections are: Application Form, Project Summary, Narrative, Budget Form and Letters of Commitment.

4. Submit Application by August 26, 2016.

Application Materials

1. Request for Proposals (this document includes detailed information on the grant program, a copy of the application questions found in the online system, and details on how your application will be reviewed).

2. The proposed budget must be provided on this budget form – please download this form to enter your budget and upload to the application website (this form is also embedded within the online application system). In no case may the budget request exceed $50,000.

3. All other application materials are located within the online application system.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Huntsman Cancer Institute encourages all individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of developing cancer and to learn about tests that can help detect cancer early and possibly prevent it from developing. It is an important part of our mission to you and your family.HCI is opening our doors to the community and inviting you to experience the research, treatment, education, and prevention efforts that are happening at our world-class facility every single day.

Changing the DNA of Cancer Care

Our physicians, researchers, staff, and volunteers will be on hand to share how HCI is changing the DNA of cancer care.

Activities

Interactive, kid-friendly educational booths

Hospital tours

Renowned HCI speakers

Skin cancer screenings*

Oral cancer screenings*

Be The Match Bone Marrow Donor Drive

Inflatable colorectal education exhibit

Nutrition and cooking demonstrations

Teddy bear clinic

Zumba, pilates, yoga, tai chi, and qigong demonstrations

Art therapy

Prevention photo booth

Free smoothies

Free drawings and giveaways

Safe disposal of unused medication

*Screenings are limited and by appointment only. To schedule, call 1-888-424-2100

FREE admission, parking, and fun

Please send any comments or questions to garrett.harding@hci.utah.edu.